I am pleased tohave my dear brother-in-Christ Oliver Underwood as my guest blogger today.
“Peacocks are male peafowl, a type of pheasant that also includes the female peahen. No matter the species of peacock, these colorful creatures boast impressively sized and patterned plumage that they fan out for display purposes. It isn’t an act of vanity, though–peacocks fan out their feathers as part of a courtship ritual to attract a mate.”[1]
The Peacock is an amazing sight to observe. Although it is simply a bird at its simplified definition it poses itself in such a way to appear as something much more. At every opportunity this illustrious fowl deliberately struts about in an attempt to gain attention.
Recently as I was reading about Job’s life in the scriptures I was faced with an unavoidable wall of conviction and revelation.
Not unlike the peacock, we as humans have an extreme desire to be noticed and/or exalted. We live in an age of self-promotion and are submerged in a culture that prescribes the boosting of self-esteem. As I evaluated my own life it was not hard to see my natural bent towards self-absorption. Self-absorption has saturated the physical, relational, and spiritual areas of my life. This is a humbling revelation considering that these areas make up everything that I am.
As you read this you might start to think, and then say to me, “Wow! This guy is really hard on himself! You can’t be that bad. Don’t have such a critical spirit. You’re involved in ministry and love your wife and children. Just keep being the best version of yourself.” Let me clarify what I am saying. I am not saying that I don’t do anything good. I am simply declaring that there is a constant undercurrent of the desire for approval, pleasure, personal success, consumerism, and a first-response priority of self-consideration.
Throughout the scriptures we can see clear examples of men who are entangled with “self.” In the first chapter of Job we see the God of the universe sovereignly allowing Satan to challenge Job’s faithfulness. Job’s responses initially were amazing. He made the well-known statements “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1:20 NASB), and again he says “shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10)
Then we see a transition in Job’s perspective and attitude for the next thirty-six chapters. He begins to hone in on his personal circumstances and deprivations (justified in my mind). With the help of his social surroundings (friends) and his natural inclination, he deviates from the truth of God’s sovereignty.
Unlike how our natural response would be to a man in circumstances such as this, God begins to admonish Job in his self-centeredness. The Lord proceeds to make question statements like “where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth’, ‘you know, for you were born then” (Job 38:4,21). Job recants and the correct position is reinstated. “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth” (Job 40:4). The Lord then accepts Job because of his repentance and restores him two-fold.
What Job did not realize is that his circumstances were not about him. He already belonged to the Lord. Job didn’t realize that thousands of years later a man and a people would be struggling with perspective and through the reading of his trials and tribulations that we would be pressed into the loving arms of a great God.
Our natural perspective along with cultural encouragement is the promotion of man. This view is anti-God and deviates from the message of the gospel. As the forerunner John said “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Paul writes to the church in Corinth “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Immediately before Paul wrote this he was imploring the Lord to remove some sort of hindrance (the thorn). The Lord responds to his distress in a way that only a sovereign God would—NO! (my words)—by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
It’s natural to tell ourselves that we need to be esteemed, but this is actually what went wrong in the garden many years ago. The more we have a biblical fear of the Lord, the more reverent and submissive we become through the power of Christ. The more submissive that we become the more we can reflect the authentic love of Christ through obedience to His Word.
This is what transforms nations: the power of the Almighty God through the obedience and repentance of His people.
Prayer:
Lord You are so good and worthy of all praise. Your “significance” is overwhelming. I become undone when I think of how You use the insignificant things in the world to shame the things that are, the wise, the strong. While we were helpless is when You came for us. Humble our spirits so that we may be effective for Your kingdom. To You be all of the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Read Oliver’s last guest blog: It pleases me to please me.
*All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
About Today’s Guest Blogger
Oliver Underwood, and his precious wife Lisa, are ministering on the front lines of the BIBLICAL battle against all types of addictions. Lisa and Oliver are blessed to parent three children: Christian, a nine-year old boy; Evan, a six-year old boy; and Kiley, a four-year old little girl (going on 19!).
Oliver struggled for 12 years with meth, heroin, and alcohol addition, which was really on the tip of the iceberg of what was really going on in his heart. By God’s grace, Oliver’s life was transformed, and now God is allowing him to comfort others with the same comfort Oliver was given. Now, Oliver and his family are richly blessed to be a part of a ministry. Oliver serves as the Executive Director of “The Mission House,” a biblically-based men’s program helping men enslaved by sin (addictions). The work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the men at the “The Mission House” helps them learn God’s instructions for living and strengthen them to choose a life of freedom in Christ.
For more information about “The Mission House” go to: https://themissionhouse.info/
[1] http://animals.mom.me/peacocks-spread-feathers-2729.html
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One reply to “Significance”
Shirley, I appreciate the reminder that “It’s natural to tell ourselves that we need to be esteemed, but this is actually what went wrong in the garden many years ago.” That is so timely!